Helping Ned Isham

Australian boy NED ISHAM, age 5, was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia (ALL) and now his only hope of survival is CAR-T therapy available in the USA.

Message from Ned's Parents Emily and Seth:

Update Feb 2019: Two months after the Isham family returned to
their Tasmanian home since Ned’s 2nd bone marrow transplant, sadly, they’ve
just discovered Ned’s cancer has relapsed aggressively, and they are now left
with no further viable treatment options. Seth will continue working part-time,
however Emily will no longer return to work as planned, as they try to make
memories and care for Ned during his remaining months.

Overwhelming thankfulness and hope. We are so happy to confirm that Ned’s funding for treatment in Seattle is secure.

Thanks to the amazing generosity of so many people, Seth and Emily and their children will be able to travel to Seattle to access world class CAR-T cell treatment for Ned’s leukaemia.

The money raised by the Rare Cancers campaign will be used to cover travel, accommodation and living expenses for the Isham family.

The private international donation will cover the medical treatment and all hospital expenses. Though we know the intermediary through which international donation has been channeled to us, the source is anonymous - even to us.

The outpouring of love, support, prayer and generosity has been such a huge encouragement to the Ishams during this difficult time.

Seth, Emily, Lucy, Ned, Eleanor and Gilbert would like to pass on their overwhelming thankfulness to everyone who had made this amazing fundraising campaign possible.

Message from Rare Cancers Australia:

In the unlikely event that any funds donated through Ned's page are superfluous to his requirements, they would be used to help other children living with cancer. Like the Isham family we are very grateful for the generosity shown in support of Ned and we wish him a speedy and full recovery.

Ned Isham and his family have been fighting against cancer
for nearly four years. They have journeyed through relentless treatments,
interstate family relocation, discouraging setbacks and the recent devastating
news that the bone marrow transplant Ned underwent from his sister last year
was unsuccessful.

The oncology team at the Royal Children's Hospital in
Melbourne have strongly recommended that Ned travel to Seattle to take part in
ground-breaking new CAR-T cell therapy. This new treatment has been
running successfully for several years and is the best possible option, given Ned's
specific cancer diagnosis and disease course. Sadly, whilst it is coming to Australia it will not be soon enough for Ned.

Ned’s disease is increasing rapidly and there is an urgent
need for this treatment - his best chance for life.

Ned, together with his beautiful family Dad Seth,
Mum Emily, Sisters Lucy and Eleanor and baby Gilbert, will need to travel to
Seattle in early May and stay for approximately three months for this program and the associated treatment.

The cost of going to Seattle is considerable and beyond the reach of the family. The family will need AUD $80,000 for flights, accommodation and
living expenses, in addition to the AUD $600,000 upfront cost for his
treatment.

The Isham family has applied to the Australian government
for funding assistance in the form of the MTOP (Medical Treatment Overseas
Program). The outcome of this application won't be known for some weeks and
there is an urgent need for the treatment money to be provided upfront (early
May).

As a community, we want to surround Seth, Emily and the
children with our love, our prayers and our support. As they walk this
unimaginably difficult road, we stand alongside them as their village - to
support and fight for precious Ned.

You can make a difference Donate to Rare Voices Australia

Rare Cancers Australia Ltd (RCA) is a charity whose purpose is to improve awareness, support and treatment of Australians with rare and less common (RLC) cancers. In Australia in 2017, an estimated 52,000 people will be diagnosed with a RLC cancer and 25,000 will die from them, according to Cancer in Australia 2017 estimates.